Monrovia, Liberia–The inaugural Liberia Technology Summit 2025 closed its doors after two days of vibrant dialogue, innovation, and commitments to propel the nation into a new era of digital governance and citizen empowerment, a UNDP press release said on Thursday, July 242025.
Under the theme “Transforming Governance, Empowering Citizens,” the summit brought together stakeholders from government, the private sector, civil society, youth-led innovation, and international development agencies to craft technology-driven responses to Liberia’s most pressing challenges.
UNDP Liberia: Driving Digital Progress
A key facilitator of the summit, UNDP Liberia invested USD 10,000 to commission the development of a dedicated summit website and managed critical IT resources.
The agency also brought influential voices to the stage, including UNDP Chief Digital Officer Robert Opp, who joined virtually. He celebrated the launch of Liberia’s National Digital Strategy as a pivotal achievement, aligning digital growth with national development priorities.
“This work includes supporting strategic policy development, strengthening digital and data capacities, and helping build digital public infrastructure,” Opp noted, adding that UNDP has supported similar transformations in over 90 countries.
Leadership Perspectives: Innovation Meets Reality
Aliou Dia, UNDP Resident Representative, commended Liberia’s readiness in shaping its digital future. He emphasized the need for digital strategies rooted in human-centered design, supported by grassroots innovation and built on a foundation of national resilience.
“The solutions discussed show that Liberia is not only prepared for the digital age, but also actively shaping its future through local leadership,” Dia noted.
Finance and Development Planning Minister Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan acknowledged Liberia’s technological limitations but emphasized strategic deployment of digital tools in public finance.
Ngafuan outlined plans to digitize government revenue systems, stressing that faster implementation means quicker revenue, which translates into more service delivery.
“Some of the challenges we face can only be solved through technology. Efficiency cuts processing time and boosts revenue, enabling better service delivery for our people,” he stated.
Summit Highlights and Future Roadmap
The summit served as a springboard for finalizing Liberia’s National ICT Policy and introducing its Digital Strategy, aiming to establish Liberia as a leading tech and financial hub in West Africa.
Key moments included a high-level panel on Policy and Innovation for Digital Governance, youth-led pitches for digital solutions in agriculture, health, and climate, launch of the Digital Empowerment Fund to support women and rural tech entrepreneurs, and exploration of emerging technologies like AI, blockchain, climate-smart tools, and e-governance.
Local Innovation Takes the Spotlight
Young innovators and schoolchildren showcased ideas alongside global tech experts, creating an exciting blend of local creativity and international know-how. Stakeholders committed to translating discussions into concrete investments to build a resilient, inclusive digital ecosystem.
Shared Vision for a Digital Future
Summoned by the Government of Liberia through the Ministry of Post and Telecommunications (MOPT) and the Liberia Telecommunications Authority (LTA), with robust support from UNDP, the event reaffirmed Liberia’s commitment to digital progress that leaves no one behind.